FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

On Monday's Mr. G plays Whist and I have the whole apartment for myself ! Not that he is always in my feet but being alone is sometimes good too. So I used my time for beauty purposes, in the hope that it would improve me at least a bit ! Hairs, nails, long shower and peace !! Little Rosie had started her dayly sleep after having slept the whole night.

 

According to the sanitary rules we are allowed to shop now nearly everything, but only one person for 30 min ! This is theory. In practical life it looks a bit different. Nicole who doesn't drive anymore due to her cancer therapy needs a driver and I proposed to take her with me ! I went in the shop took a desinfected caddie and rushed to the place where Christmas ornaments and decoration where displayed ! Nicole meanwhile had entered the shop too and was looking if there was something interesting to buy. Occasionally we met and said hello to each other and continued chatting with 1.50m distance between us.

 I found quickly what I wanted and made a good bargain. And then it was really funny

 because we met our third lockdown friend who was there by coincidence. So we were 3 ! Nobody checked how long we stayed but anyway we didn't  and returned home ! 

On Wednesday I drove Nicole to a store where she had ordered new frames for her round windows. Of course they didn't know, Corona is a brake for everybody who wants to work ! After that we went for a coffee to her house. Since restaurants and cafes are still closed you have to have your drink at somebody's place ! Poor owners ! what a loss of money. 

When I had finished with my decorations I stated that a few light garlands were missing. Reluctantly I went to one where usually people line up in long lines to be allowed to get in. To my surprise there was nobody ! I was the only one and in the shop maybe 3 people. Was I lucky and I could buy what I wanted but I didn't take an alarm clock with me to ring after 30 min !

Now as it had become cold I noticed that there was something wrong with the heating. The thermostat didn't  indicate the right temperature. I called the service and they came early morning and had to replace a piece ! Fortunately it's done know, and not when the temperatures are going under 0° !

and so another week went by the difference for the next week will be that we are sitting in Christmas decorations ..... ! for the next three weeks !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

HOLIDAYS DAY 8

This morning I had the feeling that winter had moved into the villa it was freezing cold although the heating should switch on automatically. After a couple of hours it still didn't work and as it was a new system Dominique didn't know it and called the company. After some explanations she did what the man had told her so we dressed in several layers and had breakfast and lunch in a rather cool house.

Then we went to Evian a famous high-market holiday resort and spa town on the shores of Lake Geneva it has been visited, over two centuries, by royalty such as Kings Edward VII and George V of the United Kingdom and King Farouk of Egypt, and other celebrities, so of course we had to go to. There was an exhibition of huge old luxury cruise ships in the Palais Lumière, a beautiful building which had once been the thermal bath of Evian.





The artwork inside and the architecture of the building were very beautiful.




The poster of the exhibition was very promising. I had high expectations and thought I would see replicas of rooms, uniforms, etc. The truth was very disappointing. The ships were little models and the cabins were in doll house size. The only thing which was good was the advertising ! Lots of visitors rather disappointed came out of the exhibition.



It was not allowed to take pictures, which didn't bother me I took them when nobody looked. The poster above was hanging in the exhibition and it was not allowed to photograph, but outside you could buy a copy, so I took a picture of the copy instead. In short the whole exhibition was a real flop at least for me.

Dominique and Nicole had taken a guided tour which lasted 2 h and I was happy that I hadn't joined them at least I could watch 3 very interesting movies from 1930 showing life and travel on a cruise ship at that time. In fact not very different of the once we have today.



When I went out I saw these old suitcases and a cruise ship.



Outside we found this funny little place to sit and Dominique squeezed herself into the children seat.
Then it started to rain and we returned home.

Instead of a warm house the heating hadn't worked at all and it was still cold. Suddenly we heard strange loud noises, like whistling, growling, squeaks and rumbling. It was as if all ghosts from Thonon had a meeting somewhere in the house. It was rather eerie. We followed the noise and found out that it came from some hidden tubes in a closet on the second floor and more loud in the utility room on the first floor. Apparently there was a problem with the heating. The house is heated through the tiles on the floors. Before the house blew up and I had to day goodbye forever to you all,  Dominique called the company again, and a man came immediately to check what was wrong. Fortunately it was only air which were in the tubes and caused this noise, as the heating hadn't been used for a long time. Relieved we had our supper and Dominique and Nicole some glasses of red wine, to calm their nerves. After that we laughed about our adventure and finally it was good that it had happened while we were here and not when nobody was in the villa, although there is a guardian who checks it regularly.